Redemption

A baby born. A savior begotten. 

The Creator of the universe takes human form. 

This is what we celebrate. 

What did the 

Sovereign King do this for? 

Why would the Lord of everything want with becoming what he created?

You. Me. Human beings. So lost. So broken. Hateful, greedy and corrupt. So much hurt and pain. The 'Good' that had been created, ruined with distrust and disbelief.

His heart breaking over the separation caused.

The greatest love for His creation, this broken race. 

A way to redeem them from the pain that is our reality.

Redemption through His suffering. Spotless. Guiltless. Yet accused. All the hate, greed and corruption taken on by Him.

Finished.

This Christmas may this story of redemption touch you, may it bring peace and joy, and may His love fill your life.

Have you no Shame?

Shame... what is it? Guilt... Embarrassment... Fear... a boundary that has been crossed? I have for a long time reveled in the freedom and openness given to me through the cross, but is there a place for shame or embarrassment, dare I say modesty. I confess I rarely feel ashamed, or embarrassed, is that something I need to change? should I feel these things?

I think back to when I did get embarrassed or felt ashamed it was usually as I had done something wrong or someone else had wronged me, basically a boundary was crossed. For example when I was a young teen and a feminine hygiene product commercial came on or worse a male enhancement ad (this is still embarrassing in the wrong company) and I would have 'died' of embarrassment, 'How dare they show such personal stuff on TV?' I would think to myself. 'When did we decide that was not embarrassing anymore?' It may be that we just got used to it or that it really isn't that big of a deal.

The feeling of embarrassment is not a fun one but it does serve a purpose. It tells us that there are boundaries and we should think twice about crossing those boundaries, hence the feeling being an unpleasant one. Christ said 'love your neighbor as yourself' and as part of that we should respect others boundaries as if they were our own, not that we have to all have the same boundaries but that their needs and feelings of being violated are just as important as ours.

There comes a point when free through Christ's death and resurrection can become walking all over your 'neighbors' boundaries.

Free Will

What is free will? The RIGHT to choose? No one can do that for you, no one is responsible for your choice. Everyone knows whats best for everybody else. Lets take a minute to think about it. Who has to live with that choice? Who is the one responsible for the consequences?

There are times when another person's decision effects us or saddens us either because that decision hurts us or we see the hurt that is coming for them. The temptation is to pressure this person to do our will -we know whats best... right?- to prevent the hurt or inconvenience to them or us. To save everyone from the consequences.

There is great risk in honoring a person's free will, as some decisions have permanent and long term consequences like co-signing a loan, trying an addictive substance, getting a divorce or moving. God has taken that risk by giving each of us a free will. We can choose to seek him or we can choose not to. God has allowed this, and this CHOICE has great consequences(John 3:16).

If God has allowed this amount of risk with the apple of his eye (that's YOU!!). What would happen if we honored the way God has made us by communicating our concerns to the ones we love as God has done with the Gospel and then taking the risk to care for and love them as they make their own choices right, or wrong.





You might begin to find freedom in your relationships as God begins to works in their lives and they(not you!) begin to bear the weight of their decisions. That person begins to see the consequences of that decision good or bad and they learn how to choose better or what to do differently next time. We see this in nature with the butterfly struggling out of the cocoon without the struggle they do not gain the muscles required to fly and so are unable to gather food or avoid becoming prey to other bugs or animals. Likewise the seed falls to the ground and without the struggle of death just stays a seed(John 12:24). Without the struggles of life and sometimes death what do we learn from. Knowledge is all well and good but ultimately each and everyone of us at some point is thick headed and has to learn from the experience of consequences.

A change of heart is personal no one but God, the devil if he is allowed or the individual(usually only with God's help)can make that change in their life.

How can I show loving support to someone when they are making a choice that has long-term repercussions?

Start by getting on your knees and being a prayer warrior and if you have shared your concerns with them or don't feel that it is your place to share them, continue to be a prayer warrior and leave it in His ALMIGHTY hands.

About Me

Hello, 

You may have yet to meet me or may already have. I am Ericka Bolluyt, Client Services Director at Options for Women | Morris.
I started volunteering at the center in March and stepped into the position as CSD in July. I would like to tell you a little about myself.
I live in Hancock with my husband of 8 years, Daniel. I was born and raised in Michigan where I was home-schooled by my wonderful christian parents who taught me to never stop learning, always "find the truth" and not to love principles before loving people. I moved to Minnesota in 2006. 
I have for some time felt God was pointing me to minister in my local community, but was unsure how or where. When this job became available I decided not to apply at that time. The Lord knew my heart and less then a month later God allowed me the chance of applying again and so here I am. 

I look forward to serving God and our community through this position.

-Ericka Bolluyt, Client Services Director
Options for Women | Morris

God knows my number....

I want to share a story with you.  I had an experience recently that showed me how close God really is to us.  It spoke to my heart in such a way that I felt the need to share it with you.  I hope that it encourages you. 

A couple weeks ago I was able to go to a women’s retreat for a couple days.   Wahoo, Mom’s night out right? FREEDOM! J I went not really knowing what to expect, but I knew in my heart I needed to go.  The first night I went I met some wonderful ladies. I also ran into a couple ladies that were healed of stage 4 cancer. 

For those of you who don’t know, I lost my mom to Cancer last fall.  It was a huge blow to my family.  From the time we found she had cancer to the time she passed was less than a year. The grieving process I have felt for myself has gone fairly well. Is it hard not having her around? Absolutely! I miss her like crazy.  The peace for me comes in knowing where she is. He has her.  She lives in a place where there is no more suffering or pain. 

When I was introduced to these ladies I immediately felt anger, frustration in my heart.  I was ecstatic for them but angry at why….Why? Why Lord, why didn’t you heal her too? We prayed multiple times for her, no release of pain, nothing. Why? Why did you heal them and not her? Why? Why? Why?  I thought I was past all this but the pain just struck me once again that evening.

All these questions were passing through my mind as I went to bed that night.  The next morning I woke up and immediately went to spend some quiet time out by the lake.  I grabbed a cup of coffee and my phone so I knew what time I needed to be back for breakfast.  I found a bench constructed of 2 logs and a piece of wood out by the edge of the lake.  I sat out by the lake for about an hour enjoying the quietness, and peacefulness along with the fall colors. It was a beautiful morning.  It felt cool but warm all at the same time with the breeze blowing on my face off the lake.  I prayed to God and asked Him all the questions I had for Him floating around in my mind.   Did I receive a direct answer as to why? Not exactly but I felt comforted beyond my own abilities.  He touched me that day.  He really did.  I felt peace in my heart. I wasn’t angry anymore.

As I sat on the bench that morning, I realized something.  He never leaves things for us to deal with our emotions all on our own.  He brought it to my attention when I didn’t even realize it was something I still needed to deal with.  He wants us to work through the hurt we have in our hearts even if it leaves us questioning why.  He loves us and never leaves us. He is always there. He is there in the good, He is there in the ugly. 

I end this story with a miraculous gift He gave me that day.  As I looked down to check the time on my phone, I noticed I had a missed call from my husband on that same morning. I had my ringer off so it didn’t ring though it was sitting next to me on the bench. It was minutes prior while I was praying.  There was also a responding text from my phone to my husband, saying “I can’t talk now. Can I call you later?” How did I text him back when I didn’t even hear the phone ring in the first place? I believe my Heavenly Father didn’t want me distracted from our conversation, so he responded on my behalf. Woah, unbelievable right?  All things are possible with God!

What did I learn from this situation?  I know that He truly cares, even though I was frustrated and angry with Him, He is

patient with me and comforted me. What a blessing to know that even when we are upset, He wants us to talk to Him. He wants us to bring all of our cares to Him.  He wants us to lay all at His feet.  He will bring the comfort that you are searching for. He will heal our broken hearts.  It is His design.  No one else can heal a wounded heart, that’s why we are always longing for something more until we know Him truly.  Something else I learned this weekend that I will end with.

We don’t have to understand it all to trust Him. I encourage you to talk to Him. Give Him your worries, your thoughts, even your frustrations. He loves you. He loves all of you! The good, the bad, and the ugly! He wants to help you through it all. It’s not about going to church, it’s about a relationship with Him, your Father, your Daddy! Crawl up on His lap. It’s safe, it’s freeing, and He will bring you the peace, joy and comfort that you’ve never experienced before.  He loves you where you are at. He loves you more in a moment than a person can in their entire lifetime.  Amazing! 

Where does your happiness come from

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart”

Psalm 37:4 ESV

Same verse, check out this different version 

“Keep company with God,

Get in on the Best”

Psalm 37:4 MSG

JJJJJJJJJJJJJ

When you think about your happiness, where do go to find it?  Do you find it in your children? Do you find it in your spouse or significant other? Do you look for it in that beautiful piece of chocolate cake or pint of peppermint bon bon ice cream, only to have a stomach ache later? Or how about that raspberry mocha down the street at the Common Cup? Do you splurge in material items, only to find the excitement worn off in a day or two?

My lightbulb has, finally, after 14 years of marriage been turned on.   For years I leaned on my husband to fill my happiness cup.  When my cup wasn’t filled, I went to my children.  Well guess what? I was leaning on imperfect people to fill a cup that would always have holes in it.  I’d come home from work excited to see my husband and children and was welcomed with disappointment. It was like someone was poking a hole in my Styrofoam cup and my happiness was draining at my feet.  I was weary. 

Bitterness began to take root in my heart without my even realizing it.  I’d hit the front door of my home and I’d get that ache in the pit of my stomach.  Overwhelmed, frustrated, furious that nothing was ever getting done.  I was bitter towards my children and most of all my husband.  “If he would only, he never, I always” were common sentences out of my mouth.  Do you know that quote “When momma ain’t happy, nobody’s happy.” Unfortunately it is true.  The kids were picking up on the tension and then the bickering came, yuck! I was not happy.  

But here’s the thing….It’s not their job to make me happy.

None of us are perfect.  We are all imperfect beings.  So when we look to an imperfect person to fill our “Cup”, we will always, always, always be disappointed.  When I realized where the root of that ache was coming from, I first asked for forgiveness, then I decided, I have a choice.  I have a choice to let those small things go and ask for help when things get overwhelming OR continue to live in my unhappiness.  If I wanted the bitterness to end, I needed to change my actions. 

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” 

Ephesians 4:31-32 

So who fills our cups?

JESUS fills our cups.  He does not say suck it up and move on.  He tells us only to BE STILL, lean on Him.  When life seems overwhelming, and you feel like you’re struggling, He can bring things into proper perspective and bring our feet back down to solid ground.  He helps us put one foot right in front of the other, even if it’s just baby steps.  He wants to restore your happiness.  He understands the road we travel, he knows our hearts, sometimes more than we understand or know our own. 

There is also NO ONE that loves you more than He does.  His love is unconditional.  He loves you more in a moment than any person could in a lifetime.  Woah! You are loved, You are valued, You are treasured!  That is perfect, harmonious love, true happiness. What is better than that? Certainly not that chocolate cake.

So through all of this I learned to recognize and yank bitterness out of the ground before it takes root.  While life is not perfect and never will be, I’m letting the little things go, asking for help when I need it.  Leaning on the Lord and CHOOSING HAPPINESS!